A Team Approach To Tongue Tie Releases

Dr. Zaneta Hamlin is one of the leading tongue tie providers in Hampton Roads . Through Cusp Untethered, Dr. Hamlin has helped hundreds of patients overcome the challenges of tongue ties. Whether it’s treating breastfeeding difficulties in babies to oral development issues in kids, and even speech issues in children and adults, Dr. Hamlin’s team-based approach to tongue tie release with frenectomies is what sets our practice apart.

We work closely with a variety of other healthcare providers to give kids and parents access to all of the tools and resources they need to overcome tongue ties. Learn more below, and see how our interdisciplinary approach to tongue tie treatment can help you and your little one, and set them on the path toward better overall health and development.

What Is A Team Approach To Tongue-Tie Treatment?

At Cusp Untethered, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin works with a team of specialists throughout the tongue tie treatment process. She firmly believes that parents should work not only with a dentist, but with a wide variety of other medical professionals to help their children overcome the negative effects of tongue ties. As part of our holistic approach, we work closely with:

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• Pediatricians
• Orthodontists and airway specialists
• Midwives
• Chiropractors
• Doulas
• Lactation specialists
• Craniosacral Therapy (CST) specialists
• Myofunctional therapy providers
• Speech-language pathologists
• Occupational and physical therapists
• Massage therapists
• Feeding Therapists

We are happy to work with you or your child’s existing care team whenever possible. However, Dr. Hamlin can also provide you with referrals to other specialists in the area, as well as recommendations on which providers may be appropriate for your child’s needs. At Cusp Untethered, we are happy to be your “home base” for tongue tie care in Virginia Beach, and to facilitate your interactions with other specialists in the area.

Why A Team Approach Matters

If you’ve been exploring your or your child’s options for tongue tie treatment, our team-based approach may seem a little bit out of the ordinary. Many dentists simply offer a frenectomy, might send you home with some exercises to do with your little one, and that’s it!

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But a Cusp Untethered, we believe that our team-based approach ensures the best possible outcome for children and adults, too. As a mother herself, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin has personal experience with tongue ties. Both of her daughters struggled with tongue ties that interfered with feeding and made it difficult for them to gain weight, develop, and thrive. Finding a supportive, experienced care team to help her through this experience was not easy!

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So by bringing together a team of specialists for tongue tie or even lip tie treatment, Dr. Hamlin hopes to make things easier for mothers, fathers, and kids of all ages. Our team-based approach means that Dr. Hamlin can work closely with your child’s pediatrician, physical therapist, lactation consultants, and other professionals.

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Together, your tongue tie team can determine the best time for you or your child to undergo treatment, provide a laser frenectomy to release their tethered oral tissues, and work with you to ensure that they recover swiftly, relearn how to feed, speak, etc, correctly, and are able to enjoy proper oral range of motion once again.

The Benefits Of A Team Approach To Tongue Ties

Accurate, informative diagnosis

First, a team approach leads to more accurate diagnosis of tongue ties, as well as other Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs), including lip ties and cheek ties. For example, your child’s pediatrician may notice that they have a tongue tie during a routine checkup and refer you to Dr. Hamlin for expert treatment and diagnosis.

Get treatment at the right time

A team approach also helps you choose the right time for treatment. Typically, sooner is better for most babies, but based on your child’s unique developmental and health needs, their care team may recommend waiting until a specific time for surgical intervention with a frenectomy.

Better long-term outcomes

Working with an interdisciplinary team leads to better short-term and long-term outcomes. In the short term, working with specialists like physical therapists helps ensure your child regains proper range of motion after their frenectomy surgery. And in the long term, advice and treatment from lactation consultations and pediatricians can help your child feed more effectively, sleep soundly, and continue developing at the appropriate pace.

Enjoy peace of mind 

With a tongue tie care team in place, you can also get peace of mind and answers to questions that you may have about your child’s oral health, feeding, and development. You’ll know that you’re doing everything you can to overcome their tongue ties, restore oral range of motion, and set your little one up for success.

Understanding Our Approach To Tongue Tie Treatment

Diagnosis and assessment

First, you’ll need to have your child’s tongue ties diagnosed. Dr. Hamlin can diagnose tongue ties herself, but may also recommend that you work with a lactation consultant, midwife, or pediatrician to determine the extent of your child’s feeding and speech issues. 

Preparing for frenectomy treatment

Even before you or your child undergoes the frenectomy treatment, working with a myofunctional therapist or physical therapist is a great idea. These professionals can help your child improve their oral strength and mobility, and ensure that they can move their tongue and lips easily and freely once they undergo their frenectomy.

Releasing the tongue tie with a frenectomy

At Cusp Untethered, Dr. Hamlin provides frenectomies with a CO2 laser. The entire process takes only a few minutes, is virtually pain-free, and involves nearly no bleeding or discomfort for your child. Dr. Hamlin will use her dental laser to “snip” the frenectomy and remove excess tissue. This releases the tongue tie and is the first step in restoring your child’s oral range of motion.

Post-treatment rehabilitation and physical therapy

The frenectomy or release is not the end of treatment. After their surgery at Cusp Untethered, Dr. Hamlin and her team will provide you with a set of exercises and instructions to follow to ensure their tongue tie does not reattach.

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We will also typically refer you and your little one to a myofunctional therapist, occupational therapist, or physical therapist for further treatment. Even if you and your child only visit for a few weeks, this step helps monitor their progress and ensures that they are getting the best possible care.

Following up with your child’s care team

Once your child has recovered from their tongue tie surgery, you may need additional consultations with a midwife, doula, speech, myo, CST or breastfeeding specialist. Some babies have difficulties adjusting to breastfeeding after their tongue tie has been released, and these medical professionals can provide the support you need for a smooth transition as you and your child get used to your “new normal.”

Common Misconceptions About Tongue Ties And Frenectomies

• You only need one provider – This is only true for very simple, minor tongue ties. For the vast majority of children, a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to resolve tongue ties. Tongue ties affect feeding, speech, and even things like oral development and airway health. With a multi-disciplinary approach, you can get the care your child needs to overcome all of these challenges and more.
  
  
• A frenectomy will fix everything – Not necessarily. Without proper co-treatment for tongue ties and post-surgical care, your child may still have issues feeding. As they relearn to breastfeed, most babies will need additional care, including lactation support and myofunctional therapy. It takes time for babies to adjust after tongue tie release, and working with a team of tongue tie specialists is the best way to speed up this process.
  
  
• It’s too early for my baby to get a frenectomy – Babies can get frenectomies starting within a few days after birth as long as they are healthy. Dr. Hamlin can work with you to determine the best time for your little one to get a frenectomy.
  
  
• Treatment revisions mean the provider failed – Not always! Even with proper surgical procedures and post-treatment care, certain tongue and lip ties can be very difficult to treat, and may require revision to remove more tissue and ensure proper oral range of motion. After care is also extremely important to maintain the range of motion achieved immediately after surgery.

Answering Your FAQs About Tongue Ties

• Why does tongue-tie treatment require multiple providers? At Cusp Unetethered , we believe that a multi-disciplinary tongue tie care team makes it easier for babies to recover from frenectomies.
  
  
• When is the best time for my baby to get a frenectomy? It’s never too early with a team in place. The sooner a restriction is removed, the sooner your child can get back to breastfeeding properly, and their risk of other oral development issues will be much lower, too. Healthy babies can get frenectomies within a few weeks or months of birth. We recommend consulting with Dr. Hamlin for a recommendation.
  
  
• What is a tongue tie revision, and when is it needed? Tongue tie revision is basically another frenectomy. It’s needed if the tongue tie doesn’t heal properly and re-attaches to the base of the mouth. In most cases, tongue tie revisions can be avoided with proper surgical technique, at-home tongue stretches, and physical therapy for your child.‍
• Can I just have the tie released without therapy? No. Proper frenectomy aftercare is absolutely essential for the best results. At a minimum, you will need to do stretches with your child to keep their tongue tie from re-attaching. We recommend at least a few follow-up visits with a physical therapist to ensure that you perform the stretches correctly and put your child on the path to healing.

• Is this approach only for babies? No. Older children, teens, and even adults can benefit from tongue tie release. While we primarily treat young children, Cusp Untethered has helped patients as old as 87 years old get treatment for tongue ties and experience better oral range of motion.

Cusp Untethered – An Expert Approach To Tongue Ties

If you’re looking for multidisciplinary tongue tie care in Virginia Beach, look no further than Dr. Zaneta Hamlin and the team at Cusp Untethered. As a mother who struggled with tongue ties in two of her children, Dr. Hamlin has a personal understanding of how difficult it can be for babies and parents to manage and treat tongue ties.

Whether you’re just getting started with tongue tie treatment for your baby or they’ve already had a frenectomy elsewhere and you are looking for expert tongue tie revision support, our team is here to help. Call us now at (757) 517-0907  to book your first consultation and learn more about you or your child’s options for both surgical and holistic tongue tie treatment in Virginia Beach.